User talk:Smalay1

This account, , has been blocked indefinitely from editing Wikipedia, because your username does not meet our username policy.


 * This is often not a reflection on the user, and you are encouraged to choose a new account name which does meet our guidelines and are invited to contribute to Wikipedia under an appropriate username. If you feel this block was made in error, you may quickly and easily appeal it&mdash;see below.

Our username policy provides guidance on selecting your username. In brief, usernames should not be offensive, disruptive, promotional, related to a 'real-world' group or organization, or misleading. Also, usernames may not end with the string "bot" unless the account is an approved bot account.

If you have already made edits and wish to keep your existing contributions under a new name you may request a change in username. To do so, please follow these directions:
 * Add  This is possible because even when you are blocked, you can still edit your own talk page.
 * At an administrator's discretion, you may be unblocked for 24 hours to file a request.
 * Please note, you may only request a name that is not already in use. The account is created upon acceptance – do not try to create the new account before making the request for a name change since we can far more easily allocate your new name to you, if it is not yet used. Usernames that have already been taken are listed here. For more information, please visit Changing username.
 * In the alternative, you can "abandon" the contributions under this username and create a new account, which is much faster and easier.

Last, the automated software systems that prevent vandalism may have been activated, which can cause new account creation to be blocked also. If you have not acted in a deliberately inappropriate manner, please let us know if this happens, and we will deactivate the block as soon as possible. You may also appeal this username block by adding the text  or emailing the administrator who blocked you. Daniel Case (talk) 21:23, 4 March 2009 (UTC)


 * You do understand that changing your account name does NOT absolve you from conflicts of interest and that you should not edit articles about your company. Knowing that you will never again edit articles related to a company you work for, or add or remove or change any information about you company from Wikipedia, what sorts of articles are you interested in editing?  --Jayron32. talk . contribs  22:55, 4 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Actually, if you work for Morningstar, the situation is a bit different because there are established articles on the company. You should certainly not edit to promote the company but you can be involved in helping to correct errors and update uncontroversial information per the conflict of interest rules here.  Also, you should understand that your account is for you, not for the company, and only you should use it.  If you agree to abide by WP:COI, and to limit this account to one user, you can be unblocked.  Mango juice talk 23:09, 4 March 2009 (UTC)


 * I do work for Morningstar's corporate communications office, which is why I chose my original username, to help maintain transparency for your readers and administrators. As you can see from my edits, I am only seeking to update information from our public filings, acquisition announcements and earnings statements and correct errors. I will certainly abide by the COI rules and limit the account to my usage alone. Furthermore, I'd be happy to provide direct contact information for verification purposes. Thank you. -M-star Media Relations/Smalay1

It's good for you to be up-front about your conflict. On Wikipedia, though, we don't allow this via usernames: instead, please make a note on your user page about your conflict of interest. (Since Wikipedia can't confirm the truth of things put in usernames, and they can't be changed, this is a better approach.) The golden rules for COI editing are: (1) don't create new articles on the subject, (2) propose edits on the article talk page instead of making them yourself (except for extremely basic non-controversial updates, like changing an address or the name of a corporate officer), and (3) don't revert the edits of others on pages where you have a conflict. Mango juice talk 18:40, 5 March 2009 (UTC)